Wireless access control system with energy-saving piezo-electric locking

Abstract

One aspect of the disclosed embodiment is a method and system for conserving battery life in a wireless access control system. This disclosed embodiment comprises a wireless access control system with a lock having an electronic controller and a piezo electronic driven locking mechanism. The electronic controller controls voltage to the piezo electronic locking mechanism. These and other features of the disclosed embodiment are discussed in the following detailed description of the disclosed embodiment.

1. An RF access control system comprising:
 an access control panel; 
 a panel interface module in electrical communication with the access control panel via a first communication link to deliver an access signal to the access control panel; 
 an access point operable to read an access signal generated at an access point location; 
 an access point module positioned adjacent the access point in electrical communication with the access point via a second communication link to receive the access signal from the access point, the access point module including an access reader to read the access signal from the access point, and an access processor in electrical communication with the access reader and in communication with the panel interface module to deliver the access signal to the access control panel; 
 a locking control unit in communication with the access control panel to receive a locking control signal, the locking control unit coupled to and in communication with the access point to deliver the locking control signal to the access point; and 
 an electronic locking subsystem positioned at the access point and in communication with the locking control unit to receive the locking control signal, the electronic locking subsystem including a piezo-electric lock having a piezo-electric element, a positional displacement amplifier, a bolt movable between a first position and a second position, and a power supply in communication with the piezo-electric lock to selectively apply a voltage across the piezo-electric lock to move the bolt between the first position and the second position in response to the locking control signal from the locking control unit. 
 
   
   
     2. The RF access control system of  claim 1 , wherein the access point module is in wireless communication with the panel interface module. 
   
   
     3. The RF access control system of  claim 1 , wherein the access control panel includes a database having authorized access signals, and wherein the bolt is movable to the second position in response to the locking control signal corresponding to one of the authorized access signals. 
   
   
     4. The RF access control system of  claim 1 , wherein the bolt moves from the first position to the second position when a non-zero voltage is applied by the power supply across the piezo-electric lock. 
   
   
     5. The RF access control system of  claim 4 , wherein the bolt moves to the second position when the non-zero voltage applied by the power supply across the piezo-electric lock is removed. 
   
   
     6. The RF access control system of  claim 5 , wherein the first position includes a locked position and the second position includes an unlocked position. 
   
   
     7. The RF access control system of  claim 1 , wherein the power supply includes a battery. 
   
   
     8. The RF access control system of  claim 1 , wherein the panel interface module includes a control processor and a data port coupled to the control processor to provide external access to the access point module via the control processor. 
   
   
     9. The RF access control system of  claim 1 , wherein the access point and the access point module form an integrated unit. 
   
   
     10. The RF access control system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of an audio indicator and a visual indicator operable to produce a user perceptible signal indicative of the access signal being read by the access reader. 
   
   
     11. The RF access control system of  claim 1 , wherein the positional displacement amplifier is connected to the bolt and is used to position the bolt.